Finally, some momentum on the Community Choice Act. I think that most people would agree that having the option of living at home or landing in an institution is a good thing.
Still, for wheelchair users there is more to living at home than receiving customary services outside of an institution. There is still the outstanding issue of the wheelchair and its routine repair and maintenance.
Imagine a scenario where funded (Medicare, Medicaid, insurance) wheelchairs are getting much tougher to get every year. Where lawmakers openly endorse and promote limiting access to wheelchairs and related services. Compound that with the fact that needed repairs and maintenance are also getting tighter and at times leaving wheelchair users stranded for months at a time. Well, this scenario presently exists and things may be getting even tougher down the road.
What then is the upshot for wheelchair users caught in such a scenario. It’s easy, we go from trying to keep people in their homes and communities back to square one- returning them to the dreaded status of “housebound” for lack of a wheelchair or repairs.
I have been reading some on the proposed beverage tax and also following it on the air when possible but still can’t make up my mind if I am for it or against it.
Hey, everyone knows that sugared beverages in excess are not great for the old body. Personally I drink diet soda so I may get a pass on this nuisance tax. It’s not really the tax that bothers me. It’s several other things.
I can start with the fact that I don’t really care for Uncle Sam being the arbiter of my eating habits, even when well intentioned. Old Sam has a seriously poor record when it comes to knowing what works for me. Actually that’s wrong- Congress has a bad track record of implementing legislation that effectively helps me. Again, regardless of good intent.
Now I know that there is talk about a chunk of the extorted funds going to help offset the cost of health care reform. I’m for that under the right conditions. The right conditions being that viable health reform legislation is passed and implemented. Ineffective legislation is like flat soda, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and shouldn’t be bought.
What of the collected taxes if health care supporters don’t have enough juice to get strong or any health care reform legislation passed? Does tax money go somewhere else? Where and why?
In the event that health care reform fizzles out, I can live with beverage tax money going somewhere else. How about pouring it into a fund that will help to cover medical expenses for those that don’t have insurance? Or maybe it can go toward offsetting insurance costs for the working poor? Or would that preempt the need for certain aspects of health care reform?
It’s been a while since I have posted some humorous outtakes from my days in wheelchair clinics.
It’s getting tougher to scan the old memory banks but some of the cells are still functioning and they managed to retrieve a few gems. These are parts of discussions and conversations from wheelchair clinics that I managed. The clinics were well known for their lack of starched white coats, extreme casual atmosphere, and friendly two way discussions. Many of the clients were people I had known for a number of years.
Enjoy
This was a rather unique discussion with a streetwise para named Ray who lived in a tough neighborhood in NYC. Ray was at the clinic picking up a shiny new powered wheelchair.
Ray: What do one of these things go for? Me (in suspicious tone): Why do you want to know Ray? Ray (attempting to be overly and obviously earnest): You know, I’m thinking about getting insurance in case it gets robbed. Me: Ray, please don’t fence the chair. They’ll never get you another one. If it gets robbed just call the police, get a police report, send me the report and I’ll get it replaced for you. Ray: The police! Man, they’ll never go for it a second time.
This one came up while advocating on behalf of a veteran who had been denied a powerchair by a VA gatekeeper disguised as a physician. The decision was based on a paper review. Keep in mind that the vet was a bilateral below knee amputee who could not wear artificial limbs due to chronic sores and diabetes and therefore did not ambulate.
Me: Doctor, I think that your decision is incorrect, ultimately detrimental to this veteran, and based on nothing more than your own misguided attempt to save money. Doctor: Let me assure you that we give each patient a very thorough evaluation to include their ability to ambulate safely prior to making a decision. Me: How did he do on the ambulation evaluation? Doctor: Just fine. He didn’t fall once!
A conversation with a nursing home resident named Charles who spent a good part of each day waiting for people to push him places in his wheelchair.
Me: Why don’t you want a power wheelchair? You’ll be able to get around on your own and participate in many of the things you’re missing out on. Charles: Really, I don’t mind waiting for someone to push me. It gives me something to do.
Cynthia was the sweetest lady you would ever want to meet. She treated everyone as if they were a favorite grandchild. Cynthia was no longer able to propel her manual wheelchair. I was hoping to step her up to a mobility scooter but she was for some reason pleasantly resistant.
Me: Well Cynthia, what do you think of trying a scooter out? Cynthia: I’m not sure I can handle it. Me: That won’t be a problem. We’ll have a therapist work with you until you are comfortable with it. Cynthia: There’s something I didn’t tell you that I should have. Me: What’s that? Cynthia: I don’t have a driver’s license. Me: That’s OK, you don’t need one. Cynthia: But what will I tell the police officer if I get pulled over?
Some time ago Sunrise Medical (a wheelchair manufacturer) played heavily on a slogan that they had developed for their Quickie line of wheelchairs- “Nothing Beats A Quickie”. The buttons and stickers were quite popular and very much in demand by wheelchair users and walkers. Their sales reps would leave loads of these at wheelchair clinics for the staff to give out. Phil and his usually demure wife were in the clinic to pick up a new Quickie wheelchair.
Me: (said with finality): It looks like you’re ready to go Phil. Phil: (while sneaking a peek at his wife): Can I get one of those "Nothing beats a Quickie" buttons to put on the back of my wheelchair? Me: Sure, have a couple of them. Phil: (again peeking at wife): Can I get a few of the stickers to put on the sides of the wheelchair? Me: No problem. Wife to Phil (in a commanding tone): Since you’re advertising you can start with me.
From a discussion with Bob who is a middle aged power wheelchair user.
Me: What’s going on with your chair? Bob: It runs out of power alot. Me: Have you been charging it everyday? Bob: No, only when it needs it. Me: How do you know when that is? Bob: Oh, that’s no problem. It just comes to a complete stop.
Yet another story that was submitted to USA TechGuide that reflects the ever growing issues that people are encountering with their powered wheelchairs.
It’s not always the getting of a new wheelchair that is the hard part. It’s maintaining your independence after the fact that may be even tougher.
“Permobil’s distributor ATG Rehab of Cerritos, CA delivered a defective C300. Someone in the world will be getting this “new” chair without knowing it required major repairs after two weeks of use. After 30 days of use it suffered 4 major failures of its electrical system, the leg lift mechanism detached. Thank God I was at home when fell off. It is much too heavy for us to lift. John Coffy of Permobil refused to discuss the malfunctions and defects. He is a difficult person to work with since he never returned telephone calls and emails regarding the issues. ATG Rehab took the chair for repairs and has not returned it for almost 1 year. They received full payment for a new chair without defects. I had the chair less than 30 days after March 11, 2008. An attorney was required to get a replacement chair without defects. I have requested an extended warranty because of the established and patterned repair issues. The chair is what I need to enjoy a good quality of life as best as I can with Charcot Marie Tooth Disorder. Permobil please be honest with your other disabled clients. Defective chairs should not be delivered to your disabled clients and their caregivers. Medicare will not give us chairs for five years assuming your medical devices will last that long. I used mine for less than 30 days before it had major malfunctions.”
Transporting someone in a wheelchair by vehicle safely is a top concern for many wheelchair users and their family members.
Which wheelchairs have passed crash testing? What are the standards? The do’s and don’ts and generally how to transport a wheelchair user and wheelchair safely.
For authoritative answers and advice there is only place to go- The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Wheelchair Transportation Safety. The mission of the RERC WTS is to make measurable improvements in transportation safety, usability, and independence for people who remain seated in their wheelchairs when traveling in public, school, and private motor vehicles.
The RERC WTS has a large quantity of topic literature and information that includes:
Their website has a large amount of information available for consumers, the transportation industry, and wheelchair and equipment manufacturers. It’s the place to go for information on transporting a wheelchair in a motor vehicle. http://www.rercwts.org/
I just had a wonderful time reminiscing about the “old days” in NYC. The Big Apple as many call it, but to some of us it is much bigger and sweeter than the largest of apples could ever be.
I was raised in New York City and after more than three decades living elsewhere I still consider it home. It’s where I tell people I am from. It’s where I took my kids from small town America to see the greatest of cities, my city.
I often return there. Sometimes for work, for visiting family, and just for fun. It’s always like coming home. No place else feels so right Continue reading Ramblings On New York City
Ellie is an avid gardener who is not about to let multiple sclerosis keep her from doing what she loves best, gardening.
With the help of her sons Ellie wound up with quite the setup. This is not only a good story but a great do-it-yourself guide for those who may not be able to take the back bending and want to garden. There is also some good advice on staying cool while gardening tucked away between the veggies.
“Having multiple sclerosis and limited physical ability has limited one of my favorite activities namely gardening. I’ve used garden pots on our deck and window boxes around our front porch. We also have raised beds where you can sit on the edge to garden. Last year I also had my family add a window box on our bridge-ramp. I was very successful in raising lettuce and herbs in it. So this year I was inspired to have a raised bed devoted totally to salad greens. And to use my ramp- bridge window box strictly for herbs. When I asked my two sons if they could make one for me per usual they did a bang up job. Below is my sons description and pictures of the process. “
There is an existing crisis that is being faced by Americans who depend on Medicare for their powered wheelchairs.
In 2006 Medicare reimbursement for powered wheelchairs was cut 27%. In 2009 another 9.5% was cut. Today, many Americans are paying the price.
Watch this two part video and see how these cuts have affected one small town in New York State, and then search your conscience and decide if you want this outrage to end.
Wait, hold on for a bit. This is no idle claim. This scooter is The King.
Gentlemen bow down and ladies curtsy for you are in the presence of The King. This is Mayan Scooter from Horizon Mobility. British made, and well respected in that part of the world for it’s stamina, fortitude, and no wimp approach to mobility.
The Mayan by Horizon wears the crown for a good reason- Nothing else even comes close to this machine.
This is a rugged vehicle that was made for use with no wimpy cop outs about speed and carrying capacity and range. It’s got it all, and more of it than any other mobility scooter around.
It’s designed for hard use and you can find Brits tooling around in these up on hills, out in fields, on the paths less traveled, towing their cargo behind or carting their groceries in back.
Here are a very few of the technical specs that helped earn Mayan the crown:
A 2400 watt motor with an opt up to 3000 watt.
Up to 2 x 110 amp/hr batteries with dependent range of 30 to 50 miles.
Up to 12 mph top end
Maximum user weight of 630lbs.
6″ of ground clearance.
You can opt in to the Weather Cab (the Cab is really cool) for all weather cruising and a tow bracket with cargo trailer as well as an insulted rear mounted shopping cart. The manufacturer also offers an insurance plan with 24/7 roadside recovery assistance. There are many more options and upgrades.
What do I like about the Mayan in general? Quite a few things actually but mostly it’s the concept and demeanor. The damn thing has attitude! Forget the specs and just look at it. You have to be really out of it if you can’t figure out what this machine is about.
I’m well played out on reading specs and looking at mobility scooters that try to cover the middle and leave the ends hanging out. To unwieldy to be easily used indoors and to wimpy to be a working vehicle or for hauling ass outdoors.
Rather than produce a scooter that attempts to be all things to all scooter users and fails to excel in any area, Horizon Mobility knew where they wanted to go with the Mayan and they went there. Kudos to them.
